Arts center events surpass glamorous

Patrons of the Orange County Performing Arts Center attending the Candlelight Concert and Candlelight Encore last week were treated to a very special presentation of great artistry. Natalie Cole, the Grammy-winning chanteuse, transfixed her audience with a sublime performance that had the crowd silent in their seats.

The subtle movement of her body draped in a fitted floor-length black sheath, her forearms adorned in shimmering diamond cuffs, mesmerized as Cole delivered a retinue of classic songs many originally performed by her father, the late Nat King Cole.

“I came here tonight with the belief that Nat King Cole was the greatest singer of our time. I’ve changed my mind. His daughter is the greatest singer of our time,” said one Candlelight patron following the performance.

His sentiment was echoed by many in the crowd.

At one time in the performance Cole spoke to her audience and asked, “Is everyone all right out there?”

It was so quiet in Segerstrom Hall that Cole must have thought that the audience was either asleep or dead. The silence was, in fact, simply sheer awe at her remarkable voice and stage presence.

In addition to all the classic songs, including a duet with her late father on a video screen, Cole also performed some sentimental Christmas favorites. She began with a rendition of Mel Torme’s “Christmas Song” and ended with one of the most beautiful Christmas songs written in recent years entitled “My Grown-up Christmas Wish.”

Cole told the crowd that the song, written by David Foster, had been created for her. At the end of her session she slowly and gracefully disappeared off stage with no return for an encore. The Orange County crowd gave Cole a standing ovation as Joan Riach, chair of the 2005 Candlelight Concert, took the stage and greeted the elegantly dressed crowd in Segerstrom Hall.

It was the 32nd anniversary of the Candlelight Concert and the eighth season for Candlelight Encore, performed the following evening.

The most important fundraiser of the year for the center was certainly one of the most elegant evenings ever created on the California Riviera. A year in the planning, Riach worked with her co- chairwoman, Sally Crockett, who will assume the lead role in 2006.

Candlelight Encore, the second night presentation, was chaired by Sandy McLaughlin and co-chaired by Darrellyn Melilli. The ladies worked in conjunction with a design team that has been responsible for Candlelight over a number of years. Newport Beach designer Pat Rypinski, decor chairman, created magic with Paramount Studios art director Jim Mees and Newport-based floral designer Andrew Gromeck of Couture Flowers.

As the orchestra played an overture to introduce the dining portion of the Candlelight evening, a black scrim rose, revealing a magnificent dining room staged for the crowd in Segerstrom Hall.

Red velvet draperies were placed around the back of the Main Stage to create the feeling of ballroom windows in a mythical palace hall. Dazzling crystal chandeliers -- small, large and enormous -- hung from the rafters to further create the image of the grand ballroom.

The table decor was nothing less than breathtaking. Centerpieces created by Gromeck were set four to five feet above each round table in silver urns filled with perfectly placed mounds of red velvet roses in full bloom mixed with silver Christmas balls. Fine silver-rimmed china and coordinating glassware completed the table setting which also featured the use of unusual silver metal garden chairs as apposed to the standard party chair rentals.

Crockett said it best: “It will be a daunting task to surpass the magnificence of this evening next year.”

Crockett’s words have been expressed by many previous leaders of the Candlelight program. Yet each year they somehow make it more interesting and more spectacular than the last.

Candlelight does not happen without major support from the community. This season, two new retail partners joined the Candlelight cause. Saks Fifth Avenue at South Coast Plaza hosted the annual Spotlight on Gowns, a pre-event staged earlier in the social season inviting patrons to a lavish fashion show which featured the collection of Badgley Mischka. Designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka attended the party to the delight of local guests.

Then Regency Caterers of the Hyatt Regency Hotel joined the production team, providing an outstanding dinner for both the Candlelight Concert and the Candlelight Encore.

Guests raved over the food and wine. It was absolutely first-rate and most impressive, considering the dinner service was for more than 500 guests each evening. Also supporting Candlelight this year was Morton’s steakhouse, once again hosting the annual underwriters and committee members pre-dinner event chaired by the dedicated duo of Sandy Segerstrom Daniels and Janice Agopian.

South Coast Plaza jeweler Black Starr and Frost hosted the Candlelight appreciation luncheon, another pre-event at Shady Canyon Country Club, chaired by Lori Hirth.

Following the magnificent dinner on stage there was dancing until the wee hours. Spotted in the crowd were Ronnie and Byron Allumbaugh; Barbara and Alex Bowie; Patti and Jim Edwards; Gail and Roger Kirwin; Suki and Randy McCardle; Debbie Simon and Jim Lake; Eleanor and Michael Gordon; Paul and Lilly Merage; Jan and Mike Salta; and Ginger and Tony Allen. Also supporting Candlelight were Sandi and Ron Simon; Rebecca and Carl McLarand; Twyla and Charles Martin; Julia and George Argyros; Tracy and Garth Blumenthal; Daranne and Paul Folino; and Elizabeth and John Stahr.

Former arts center President Jerry Mandel was in the crowd as was glamorous Cerise Feeley; Dee and Larry Higby; best dressed Sheila and Ygal Sonenshine; Kimberly Jones; Patricia and Dick Allen; Donna and Ron Phelps; Elizabeth Vincent; Wally Schroeder; also best dressed Valaree and Robert Wahler; Catherine and Jim Emmi; and a special guest from Beverly Hills, Taryn Rose, a noted orthopedic surgeon turned shoe designer.

interim arts center President Judith O’Dea Morr gave a warm and eloquent address to the crowd, sharing arts center success and highlighting the exciting events to come in the new year.

The Candlelight Concert will raise nearly $1.5 million in support of center programs including support of arts education for school children in the Orange County community.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.

(LA)Orange County Performing Arts Center Chairman Mike Gordon and his wife, Ellie. 20051208ir5lrvkn(LA)Co-chairwoman Darrellyn Melilli and Chairwoman Sandy McLaughlin20051208ir5lqfkn(LA)Honorary producers Jim and Kellie Mazzo, and Pam and Tom Bender enjoy the Candlelight Concert at the arts center, along with some 500 patrons. 20051208gzf7uqke(LA)20051208ir5lowkn(LA)Tom and Joan Riach, chairwoman of the Candlelight Concert 2005, stand with guest entertainer Natalie Cole.20051208ir5lpukn(LA)Honorary producers Jim and Kellie Mazzo, and Pam and Tom Bender enjoy the Candlelight Concert at the arts center, along with some 500 patrons. 20051208ir5lrekn(LA)Performing arts center interim President Judith O’Dea Morr, Candlelight Concert Co-chairwoman Sally Crockett, and Chairwoman Joan Riach